School Climate and Principal Turnover: Do Principals Stay Where the Climate Is Strong? Evidence from Georgia Schools

• In Event: Principal Labor Market Outcomes: Capturing the Influences of Race, Place, and School Climate

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between school climate and principal turnover in Georgia public schools. Using statewide longitudinal data from 2014–2024, we analyze how six dimensions of school climate relate to different types of principal turnover—within district, between districts, and exits from the profession. We explore variation by school locale and principal race. Preliminary findings show a sharp increase in principal attrition following the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with declines in perceived school climate. Fixed-effects models indicate that more positive school climates are significantly associated with lower turnover likelihood. These results suggest that investing in school climate may be a promising strategy to improve leadership stability, particularly in high-need schools and post-pandemic recovery contexts.

Authors

• Bakhyt Zhumatay, Michigan State University

• Jerome Graham, Michigan State University